In April 2014, a Chico doctor plead not guilty to charges of fabricating evidence to avoid a speeding ticket.

Authorities state that when 46-year-old Dr. Nickesh Pravin Shah was pulled over for speeding, he told the CHP officer that he was en route to respond to a medical emergency. The officer called the clinic, determined there was no emergency and gave Dr. Shah a ticket. Allegedly, Dr. Shah then forged a letter from the clinic in an attempt to avoid the citation in court.

The District Attorney charged Dr. Shah with one count of preparing false evidence and one count of offering false evidence at trial.

Obviously, presenting false testimony or false evidence is not an effective defense to a traffic ticket. Even though some officers readily admit that they give points for originality and they do not write a ticket every time they pull over a motorist, offering an excuse to the officer probably will not work either, because most officers have heard them all.

Some of the best defenses, especially in Kern County, are technical defenses. Was the stop sign behind a tree and partially invisible? Was the correct speed limit not clearly posted? While "ignorance of the law is no excuse," there are several technical issues that make a drivers reasonable mistake as to the law an effective defense.

Challenging officer's version of events is more difficult. Both judges and juries give officers a great deal of credibility. But if your Bakersfield attorney can summon witnesses to back up your version of events or cast doubt on the equipment or technique that the officer used, such an effort may very well pay off.